Mobile Sector Critical For Sustainable Development Goals
PR91806
LONDON Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/
Sixth Annual SDG Impact Report from GSMA Shows Mobile Sector Increased its SDG
Contribution, Despite the Pandemic
The sixth annual SDG impact report from the GSMA shows the mobile industry
increased its contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
2020. Despite the significant challenges posed by the global pandemic, the
sector is halfway to maximising its potential impact on the SDGs. However,
progress cannot be taken for granted, as there are less than 10 years to
achieve the 2030 SDG targets.
Click here to download: 2021 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable
Development Goals.
"As heads of state gather for the UN General Assembly, we call on world
leaders, and the public and private sectors, to work together to accelerate
progress towards achieving the SDGs. The pandemic has exacerbated inequalities
in many ways, so keeping the commitment to the SDGs has never been more
important for governments and industries. Yet, we know that it will not be
possible to attain the 2030 Agenda without mobile connectivity. It is our
responsibility to collaborate in new ways that will maximise the industry's
potential," said GSMA's Director General, Mats Granryd.
The mobile industry's SDG contributions
Despite rising mobile data traffic, mobile networks delivered a 33% improvement
in download speeds in 2020 due to increasing 4G adoption and 5G take-up. These
improvements enhance the mobile industry's SDG impact, as it enables mobile to
be at the heart of a broad range of services designed to address society's
global challenges.
Last year, a staggering 3.3 billion people used mobile to make video calls,
aiding several online activities, including e-learning, telehealth, and remote
working. 1.6 billion people are now using mobile internet to improve or monitor
their health; 2 billion people use mobile internet to access education for
themselves or their children.
2.3 billion people (45% of mobile subscribers) used their phones to purchase
goods and services, representing an increase of 300 million since 2019. During
the pandemic, more people used mobile to purchase food and other essential
products and services as they became less comfortable handling cash. This
activity supports the mobile industry's contribution to SDG3: Good Health;
SDG4: Quality Education; SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
2.6 billion people used mobile financial services, such as mobile banking and
mobile money, an increase of 270 million people since 2019. Using mobile
financial services helps create employment opportunities, raise productivity
and formalise the economy, contributing to SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent
Work and Economic Growth. Other gains are included in the report.
Key facts include:
- In 2020, the mobile industry increased its impact for each of the 17 SDGs,
achieving an average SDG impact score of 50
- This means the industry is achieving 50% of its potential contribution to the
SDGs - up from 48% in 2019 and 33% in 2015
- Despite the economic recession, mobile adoption continued to increase in
2020, supporting the industry's contribution to multiple SDGs.
- By the end of 2020, 5.2 billion people (67% of the global population) were
using a mobile phone, representing an increase of 90 million people since 2019.
- And, 4 billion people (51% of the global population) were also using the
mobile internet, which is an increase of 220 million since 2019.
Net Zero by 2050
- The mobile industry is making continued progress on disclosing climate data
and setting targets for emissions reductions.
At the end of 2020, 69% of operators by connections and 80% by revenue
disclosed their climate impacts, while 31% of operators by connections and 36%
by revenue had set carbon reduction targets to be net zero by 2050.
About GSMA
- The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more
than 750 operators with almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem,
including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers
and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.
The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in
Barcelona, Africa, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the M360 Series of
regional conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate
website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
Media Contacts:
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com
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Source: GSMA
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